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August 2011

August 31, 2011

Here are a few postgame notes after the Rangers fell 4-1 to the Rays on Wednesday.

* Ron Washington expects Alexi Ogando to make his scheduled start on Monday at Tampa Bay. Ogando had his third outing of four innings or less this month, lasting only 2 2/3 against the Rays. He allowed three runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Ogando said he feels fine physically, and his struggles are related to a mechanical issue he is battling through right now.

* Matt Harrison threw two scoreless innings of relief on Wednesday, and is still scheduled to start Sunday at Boston. Harrison had a bullpen session scheduled for Thursday, so his two innings of work Wednesday will eliminate that. "They needed me tonight," Harrison said. "I'll be ready to start Sunday. I felt good."

* Mark Hamburger had an impressive big league debut, throwing a perfect ninth. He wasn't too overwhelmed with the stadium or crowd, and said he stayed focused on executing his pitches.

* Koji Uehara gave up a solo home run to Johnny Damon in the seventh inning. He has allowed runs in four of his last five outings. But, it's worth noting, Uehara's $4 million option for 2012 kicked in, as Wednesday was his 55th appearance of the season.

* Elvis Andrus had his thrid triple of the season, tripling to right-center with two outs in the sixth. Up to that point, Rays starter James Shields had retired 15 straight. And the three triples match Andrus' total from last season.

* The Rangers avoided the shutout by scoring a run in the ninth off Rays reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Michael Young had a two-out infield single followed by a single to right by Mike Napoli. Young then scored on a single to center by David Murphy. Murphy has eight RBIs in his last five games.

* The Rangers went 16-12 in August. The Rays went 18-10, tied for the American League's best record that month.

* The Rangers announced a crowd of 28,034 on Wednesday, giving them 2,550,462 for the season. That's the highest attendance in a season at Rangers Ballpark since 2001 (2,831,111).

Alexi Ogando had another short outing this month, Koji Uehara gave up another run in a relief appearance and the offense was baffled all night by James Shields.

In the end, the Rangers suffered a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The Rays scored two runs off Ogando in the second with an RBI single by John Jaso, and on a bases-loaded walk by Ogando. In the third, the Rays added another run with an RBI single by Matt Joyce.

Ogando lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He retired the first four batters he faced before running into trouble.

Tampa Bay extended its lead to 4-0 with a solo home run by Johnny Damon off Texas reliever Koji Uehara. Uehara, who recently called his stint with the Rangers “negative,” has allowed runs in four of his last five outings. But, it’s worth noting, Uehara’s $4 million option for 2012 kicked in, as it was his 55th appearance.

That run didn’t really matter, though, as the Rangers’ offense couldn’t get anything going against Shields.

They had a chance in the first, loading the bases with one out. But Shields ended that threat by inducing an inning-ending double play grounder by Mike Napoli.

With two outs in the sixth, Elvis Andrus tripled to right-center, but Shields got out of it by striking out Josh Hamilton.

The Rangers had a brief two-out rally going against Rays reliever Kyle Farnsworth in the ninth. Micahel Young reached on an infield single and Napoli followed with a single to right. David Murphy then came through with an RBI single up the middle to avoid the shutout, but Farnsworth closed it out by striking out Yorvit Torrealba.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that right-hander Mark Hamburger made his major league debut. He threw a perfect ninth inning for the Rangers.

Only six Tampa Bay players have faced Alexi Ogando, and none more than once. Four of those players are in the lineup, including the man with the only hit -- B.J. Upton. The Rangers, meanwhile, have a familiarity with James Shields. Michael Young has the most at-bats (14), and two of his four hits have been homers. Josh Hamilton's only hit in 10 at-bats is a home run.

Adrian Beltre will be the Rangers' starting third baseman Thursday, when he's activated from the 15-day disabled list. He is in Arlington today after playing two games for Triple A Round Rock at Omaha. Andres Blanco (back) is playing tonight with Round Rock.

Matt Treanor won't arrive in Texas until Thursday morning. Mike Gonzalez was going to try to catch the last flight out tonight. They will be available Thursday for the series finale against Tampa Bay. Because rosters expand Thursday, there will not need to be any 25-man roster moves.

The Rangers will add two pitchers Thursday from Round Rock. They won't be informed until after tonight's game, said general manager Jon Daniels. Daniels also said that the players don't necessarily have to be on the 40-man roster to be call-up candidates.

Matt Treanor is headed back to Arlington and Mike Gonzalez has been added as a second left-hander in the bullpen after the Rangers completed two trades Wednesday afternoon, about nine hours before the 11 p.m. deadline to acquire players and have them eligible for the postseason.

To make room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Wilmer Font was recalled and placed on the 60-day disabled list and right-handed Tim Wood was designated for assignment. Wood had been picked up in a waiver-claim trade with Pittsburgh earlier in the month and was thought to be a possible September call-up.

Treanor, who was on the Royals' disabled list after suffering a concussion, gives the Rangers a third proven veteran catcher for the stretch run and possibly the playoffs. He has not played in a big-league game this month.

His addition gives manager Ron Washington enough flexibility to play Mike Napoli and Yorvit Torrealba in the same lineup, especially against left-handed pitching while Nelson Cruz is out. Treanor spent all but two games with the Rangers last season and was paired with Bengie Molina behind the plate in the playoffs.

Gonzalez, who was born in Corpus Christi and lives in Robstown, has held left-handed batters to a .211 average (19 for 90) this season. Lefties have a career .212 average (96 for 452) against him.

Two baseball sources have said that the Rangers are in the final stages of completing a trade with Kansas City that would bring catcher Matt Treanor back to Arlington.
Treanor was traded just before the start of the season after the Rangers shuffled their roster to accommodate an eight-man bullpen after Alexi Ogando was shuffled into the rotation to cover the loss of Tommy Hunter.

August 30, 2011

- The victory was Scott Feldman's first win as a starter since June 18, 2010 at Houston. His last start came came Sept. 28, 2010 against Seattle. The outing was Feldman's eighth appearance this season and he lowered his ERA to 2.86. He allowed just two hits in six innings and struck out four while allowing just one walk.

- Neftali Feliz picked up his 26th save of the season. Over his last 11 relief efforts, the Rangers' closer has thrown 10.1 scoreless innings and has four saves and 11 strikeouts during that stretch.

- Yorvit Torrealba threw out two Tampa Bay base runners on Tuesday and has stopped four of the last five steal attempts against him, improving his season mark to 19 of 70 runners thrown out.

- Tampa Bay has been shutout 12 times since June 1.

- In his last four starts, David Murphy is 7 for 15 with seven RBIs and two home runs. Murphy was 2 for 3 with an RBI single and a walk Tuesday.

- The shutout was the Rangers' 16th of the season, which leads the American League and is tied for third most in Texas' history. The Texas pitching staff has now thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings, dating back to the sixth inning of Sunday's win over the Angels.

- Josh Hamilton's leadoff home run in the sixth traveled 449 feet. He has now gone yard in four of his last 10 games.﻿

ARLINGTON -Scott Feldman gave the Texas Rangers a much-needed two-hit, six inning spot-start, the Texas bullpen was nearly flawless and Josh Hamilton reverted to his towering home run-hitting self as the Rangers topped the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 on Tuesday.

Feldman (1-0) gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out four in place of Matt Harrison.

Both teams had just two hits through five innings, as Feldman and Tampa Bay's Jeremy Hellickson looked solid early.

Texas (77-59) had its first chance in the fourth, when Hellickson loaded the bases with a double by Hamilton, an intentional walk of David Murphy and walk to Yorvit Torrealba. But Mitch Moreland couldn't convert for Texas as Hellickson forced a fly ball to right to end the inning.

Hamilton gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the sixth with a leadoff blast to the upper deck porch in right and Michael Young followed with a double to the right field corner.

David Murphy brought Young home with a single to left to add to Texas' lead.

Mark Lowe and Darren Oliver combined for a hitless seventh, Mike Adams pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Neftali Feliz picked up his 26th save of the season, even after allowing the first two runners to reach in the ninth.

Fans can begin putting their names in a lottery-type selection process for Texas Rangers American League Division Series games.

The team announced specifics earlier today. Starting at noon on Tuesday and going through Friday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m., fans can register at the team's website for the opportunity to purchase up to four tickets for one of three possible 2011 ALDS games at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington./

A pool of randomly selected registrants will be chosen and provided access to an online pre-sale opportunity. Those selected will be notified no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The online ticket opportunity for those selected will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

There is no charge to register.

The Rangers are expected to make a very limited number of reserved seats, obstructed view seats and standing room only tickets available for the ALDS games for public sale beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. These tickets can be purchased at the team's website, on the phone at 972-RANGERS or in person at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.